Twitter Starts Labeling Bots and Automated Accounts

Twitter is beginning to roll out labels for automated accounts (or bot accounts), the company announced Thursday and it also said the update was based on research that found that people wanted more context about non-human accounts. The company gives several examples of “good bots” including accounts that share vaccination updates, information about seismic activity or material from public museums.

The move will not be mandatory. The company will continue to remove inauthentic accounts it deems to break the company’s platform rules. Bots are often associated with misinformation on social media platforms – and have caused a major headache for the company.

“Examples of automated accounts you might see on Twitter include bots that help you find vaccine appointments and disaster early warning systems,” Twitter said in an FAQ. “When these accounts let you know they’re automated, you get a better understanding of their purpose when you’re interacting with them.”

Initially, in what Twitter is calling a test, a small number of developers will be invited to be able to apply the labels to their accounts. For accounts in the test that have activated the labels, an “Automated” label will appear on profile pages and on tweets themselves for accounts. Twitter says all developers will be able to use the labels by the end of the year.

The rollout is kicking off a bit later than the July timeframe that was previously promised. Twitter is also working on a label to memorialize people who have died. Last we heard, that label was scheduled to be available this year.